These stories come from the real people who live with a broken health care system. Some have health insurance and some do not. Many of these stories suggest potential solutions* that lead to quality, affordable health care we can count on. One thing we all agree on is that the we cannot trust the insurance industry to fix themselves. To learn more about what Health Care for America Now stands for read our Statement of Common Purpose.
We wanted to give you a chance to speak for yourself, in your own voice, about the need for Health Care for America Now. Do you have something to say? Tell us your story.
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Mike
Bloomington, MN
I'm 62 and in excellent health but "uninsurable" because I work for a small non-profit that does not offer group insurance. So as an individual I can be excluded from the insurance companies' normal risk pool.
I can buy individual health insurance through the state mandated high risk plan which I do. I have a $3000 deductible limited benefit plan for which I pay $637.50.
I have also set up a health savings account (HSA) and a premium only flexible savings account (FSA) so my employer can contribute pretax to help pay the premiums. Even the people at the company that hosts the HSA and FSA can't keep the rules on these things straight. It has taken me 3 months to get these accounts working properly, but then my insurance premium went up 16% so I had to change my annual contribution amount.
And last month my employer agreed to pay part of my wife's individual health insurance premium so I've been trying for several weeks to get the FSA administrator to recognize that. So far nobody there can give me an answer about wether or not an additional contribution for my wife's health insurance will be allowed, although the Treasury Department website suggests this is OK.
By the way, who's bright idea was it to involve the Treasury Department in what was already an horribly complex mess just dealing with the health insurance industry?
*Health Care for America Now is not responsible for the content of these stories. These stories are submitted by individuals in the online audience and have been edited in some cases. Health Care For America Now does not endorse any of the solutions or policy positions suggested in the content of these stories. Health Care for America Now is a coalition of organizations that agree to the Statement of Common Purpose.
See our coalition partner list.
Read the Statement of Common Purpose.
